Apparatus for hot applying strips or films on textile or non textile supports

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for assembling and hemming fabrics by hot applying strips ( 5 ) or films ( 5 ) to which thermofusible plastic materials have been applied or spread, comprising, on a bearing framework, a strip or film supplying spool ( 4 ), the strip or film being entrained on a pulling roller ( 7 ), cooperating with a sensor roller ( 8 ) mounted on a swinging lever ( 9 ), supporting a strip guiding pawl ( 13 ), the strip being further entrained on a strip supply pulling element. Downstream of the pawl ( 13 ) a guiding assembly is provided, having an adjustable width, and at the outlet of said guiding assembly, a pressing roller ( 30 ) is arranged, which is associated with a foot assembly ( 31 ), cooperating with entraining grippers ( 33, 34 ) for driving with an indexing type of movement, the fabric materials on which the strip ( 5 ) is applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for continuously applying,by a hot applying method, rigid and/or elastic strips or films, eitherclear, colored, printed upon, embossed and/or decorated, on fabricsand/or materials in general.

The present invention allows to perform the following operations:

-   -   joining two surfaces by strips and/or films;        -   arranging a strip and/or film on an edge of a textile            support, but not for obtaining a decorative effect;        -   arranging a strip or film on an edge of a textile support,            but not for providing a decorating effect, but for providing            the edge with resilient properties;        -   curling at will the support element by controlling a            differential assembly.

As is known, for making cloth articles, and in particular femaleunderwear article, it is conventional to use fabric materials having acomparatively low weight.

In this case, during the preparing of the mentioned cloth articles, theuse of seams causes an undesired thickness increase.

For solving the above mentioned problem, strips or films are hot appliedto the cloth articles, both for assembling the fabric pieces, and forhemming or trimming the edge portion of the fabric materials, to providea satisfactory finishing and strength for the cloth article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome, during theapplication of the mentioned strips or films, the above mentioneddrawbacks, by providing an apparatus for hot applying strips or films,with several application characteristics, with respect to the shape,width, elasticity and stiffness, which apparatus is designed to operatelike a conventional seaming machine.

Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of thepresent invention is to provide such an apparatus for continuously hotapplying a strip or film, in a very functional and safe manner, withoutthe need of performing specifically designed operating steps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatusfor hot applying strips or films which, owing to its constructionalfeatures is very reliable and safe in operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such anapparatus for hot applying extruded strips, to which resin or adhesivematerial has been applied, which apparatus provides the cloth articlefield with great practical improvements.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentionedaim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become moreapparent hereinafter, are achieved by an apparatus for assembling,hemming, plasticizing, applying at will rigid and/or elastic strips orfilms, either with or without a trimming of the edge portions thereof,on fabrics or supports, either of a textile or of a non-textile nature,by a hot applying method, characterized in that said apparatuscomprises, on a bearing framework, a strip or film supplying spool, saidstrip or film being entrained on a pulling roller therewith a sensorroller cooperates, said sensor roller being mounted on a swinging levercontrolling the amount and tension of the strip being entrained,depending on the apparatus working speed.

Downstream of the swinging lever is provided a guiding assembly, of anadjustable type, at the outlet of which is provided a strip pressingroller, cooperating with driving grippers, for causing the fabric piecesto be fed with an indexing type of movement for applying said stripthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosureof a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of an apparatus for hotapplying strips and/or thermoadhesive films, which is illustrated, byway of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view schematically illustrating the apparatusaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a foot element for feeding the fabricmaterials;

FIG. 3 shows an operating step of the strip blowing and pressingassembly included in the apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an applying assemblyincluded in the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows the drive assemblies included in the apparatus according tothe invention, being clearly shown the entraining or driving grippers;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view illustrating the driving grippers; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, substantially taken along the lineVII-VII of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures,the apparatus for hot applying strips or films, according to the presentinvention, comprises a modular supporting framework, generally indicatedby the reference number 1, which supports the operating or working planeor surface 2 on which is arranged a fabric material to be processed.

On the upper framework (FIG. 1) is provided a supporting arm 3supporting a strip or film 5 spool or bobbin 4.

On a side of said strip or film 5 is applied, for example by spreading,a layer of polyurethane or thermofusible resins, made of any desiredplastic materials.

The strip 5, is entrained on two transmission or entrainment pawls 6 and6′, and is driven by a pulling roller 7, which is knurled and is drivenby a D.C. motor reducing unit.

A sensor roller 8 cooperates with said pulling roller 7, said sensorroller 8 being mounted on a swinging lever 9.

In operation, the strip 5, upon passing through the pulling roller 7, isentrained on an enhancer roller 10, which is mounted on a swinging lever11, which supports a counterweight 12 arranged at its opposite endportion, i.e. at the end portion thereof opposite to the strip 5enhancer roller.

At the outlet of the roller 10, the strip 5 is entrained on a pawl 13,applied to the end portion of the swinging lever 9.

The lever 11, in turn, operates as a sensor lever to adjust the strip 5feeding speed.

As the strip is applied to a fabric material, it is supplied from thesupplying spool, with an applying speed which is determined by thetransport speed of the apparatus grippers.

In particular, as the strip is supplied, it will tend to provide apulling force on the pawl 13 applied to the lever 9, which will performa swinging movement, thereby actuating induction sensors, driving atimed feeding of the strip.

Thus, the strip, after having passed the pawl 13, will pass on a guidingassembly 20, comprising a plurality of adjustable plates, to fit thedifferent widths of strips o films, preferably from 10 to 20 mm.

The strip, which has been surface processed by spread thermoplasticresins, engages, at the outlet of the guiding assembly 20, on a pressingroller 30 arranged inside a slide element of the foot member 31,operating as a strip pressing element for pressing the strip on thefabric material to which the strip must be applied.

Under said foot member are provided respectively a main gripper 33 and adifferential gripper 34, the operation of which will be disclosed in amore detailed manner hereinafter.

In particular, the grippers or clamping elements 33 and 34 comprisetoothed surfaces and provide a transport movement of a reciprocatingelliptical type.

This movement will cause the fabric material to be fed with an indexingtype of movement, thereby passing under the front and rear portions ofthe foot members and pressing roller 30 for the strip 5.

At the central position, the pressure provided by the idling pressingroller 30, together with the gripper, will cause the fabric material tobe fed with the above mentioned indexing type of movement.

In particular, the fabric material and strip feeding movements aresynchronized with the gripper drive, i.e. of the main gripper 33 anddifferential gripper 34.

The grippers are driven and supported by two independent arms, allowingto use said grippers either coupled to one another and/or in anindependent manner.

Actually, an independent use of said grippers is necessary as only asingle gripper must be engaged, which is mounted in replacement of themain gripper 33, by consequently removing the differential gripper 34and leaving free the related arm.

Said single gripper, in particular, is used for fabrics having anaverage and large weight, to provide a fabric feeding perfectlysynchronized with the movement of said gripper.

In using fabric materials or any other materials to be delicatelythermosealed, it would be necessary to connect the main gripper 33 andthe differential gripper 34, thereby allowing to properly change thetransport movement ratio thereof.

Actually, by a suitable preliminarily manual adjustment, or by anautomatic and independent control, it will be possible to adjust theproper conditions for processing the fabric materials.

As shown, the strip pressing roller is mounted on a mounting pin 40,which is supported by a pair of arms 41, articulated on a relatedsupport member in turn supported by a foot bearing bar 42.

The foot bearing bar 42, in particular, is rigid with a slide 43,designed for vertically sliding against an urging spring 44.

The slide 43 comprises a pneumatic system for causing said slide to beraised and lowered, the urging spring 44 being designed to bemicrometrically adjusted and being downward urged, thereby allowing thefoot member 31 to provide a proper pressure on the fabric material.

The mentioned pneumatic system also allows to raise the foot member 31with the apparatus in a rest condition, to allow the grippers to beeasily cleaned, and to perform all the operations to be carried out onsaid foot member 31.

The latter, in particular, is urged by the urging spring 44 affectingthe slide of the foot member 31 so as to allow the main gripper 33 anddifferential gripper 34 to be properly operated.

More specifically, the grippers 33 and 34 are driven by a main shaft 50supporting eccentric bodies 51 and 52, for independently raising themain gripper 33 and differential gripper 34.

The two eccentric elements or cams 51 and 52 are connected to the arms53 and 54 for operating the grippers.

The main gripper 33 drives the fabric material, whereas the differentialgripper 34 cooperates with the main gripper 33 with starting loadingvariable ratios, to allow the fabric material to be fed with any desiredfeeding speed.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises moreover an electricmotor 60, on the shaft of which is keyed a pulley 61, thereon a belt 62is entrained, which further passes on a pulley 63 keyed on a drivenshaft 64.

As the driven shaft 64 is rotatively driven, it drives a further pulley67, thereon is entrained a belt 68 for rotatively driving yet a furtherpulley 69, keyed on the main shaft 50.

The driven shaft 64 turns on bearings 65 and 66, whereas the shaft 50turns on bearings 70 and 71.

The apparatus according to the present invention comprises, moreover, ahot air blower assembly, generally indicated by the reference number 80,including a blowing nozzle 83 therethrough hot air is blown.

Said air blowing assembly 80 is coupled to the apparatus framework by apneumatic vertical slide 81 and a horizontal piston 82, performing arotary and approaching movement during the lowering of the blowerassembly 80 to the strip guide pressing roller 30, so as to provide inthis condition a hot air jet.

The strip, guided by the pressing roller 30, achieves a comparativelyhigh temperature, thereby thermosealing the strip to the fabric materialto which the strip itself must be applied.

From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fullyachieves the intended aim and objects.

In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that a very functionalapparatus has been provided, allowing to easily apply either a rigidand/or elastic strip or film, of different widths, to an edge of afabric material, either with or without trimming operations.

Actually, the invention provides an apparatus like a seaming machinehaving a seaming arm; this is analogous to a conventional seamingmachine, for the operator, in performing conventional cloth articlemaking operations.

In a right arm condition (with respect to the position of the operator),is also arranged the movable blowing assembly.

The latter, under a proper control, will affect the working operationthereinabove disclosed for applying the strip.

At the end of the processing operation, the blowing assembly will belocated again in the right portion of the apparatus under the armthereof.

This condition is indispensable as the gripper transport modulecomprises knives for trimming the right edge of the material to whichthe strip must be applied.

Since the edge to be trimmed is the right edge, the movement of theknives will be performed on the right side with respect to the fabricpressing assembly, and accordingly the blowing assembly will operatefrom the right position.

Such a condition will favor and free from any engagement the front andleft side region.

This, accordingly, will be an easy and safe condition as in conventionalcloth making operations which are conventionally performed onconventional seaming machines.

The invention as disclosed is specifically suitable for all the clothmaking operations in which strips or resilient films must be applied onthe fabric edge or on curved portions of the fabric.

Such a condition will be obtained by simultaneously performing the stripapplication and trimming operations, thereby providing an optimumarticle of manufacture.

In practicing the invention, all the constructional details can bereplaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In actual practice, the used materials, as well as the contingent sizeand shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

1. An apparatus for assembling and hemming fabrics by hot applying strips or films, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a bearing framework supporting a strip or film supplying spool, said strip or film being entrained on a pulling roller, therewith cooperates a sensor roller mounted on a swinging lever, supporting a strip guiding pawl, said strip being further entrained on a strip supplying pulling assembly, downstream of said pawl being provided a guiding assembly having an outlet thereat is arranged a pressing roller associated with a foot assembly cooperating with fabric entraining gripper for entraining, by an indexing type of entraining or driving movement, fabric materials to which said strip is applied.
 2. An apparatus, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said apparatus comprises, between said supplying spool and said pulling roller, a transmission roller.
 3. An apparatus, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip supplying assembly is mounted on a counter weighted lever driven by induction sensor means, said induction sensor means causing said strip to be fed in a timed manner with said grippers.
 4. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pulling roller is coupled to a D.C. motor reducing unit.
 5. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding assembly has an adjustable width.
 6. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus further comprises a fabric pressing foot member with a counter-operating middle roller of said grippers.
 7. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric pressing foot member is coupled to a supporting element having a vertically movable slide and that said vertically movably slide cooperates with a pneumatic raising system for raising mechanical masses of said apparatus, an urging adjustable spring providing a downward directed pressure.
 8. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip pressing roller is mounted on a pair of levers pivoted to a fulcrum support element rigid with a bar element supporting said foot member.
 9. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said grippers comprise a main gripper having a plane parallel to a toothed pattern and corresponding to said presser roller and a differential gripper.
 10. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a main shaft supporting cam means operating on arm means independently driving said main and differential grippers.
 11. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a hot air blowing assembly, coupled to a horizontal translating piston and to a vertical translating pneumatic slide for driving the horizontal swinging and lowering of the hot air blowing assembly for providing a hot air blowing jet against said pressing roller and said guide of said strip.
 12. An apparatus for assembling and hemming fabrics, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises an electric motor having an electric motor shaft thereon is keyed a pulley, thereon is entrained a belt further entrained on a further pulley which is keyed on a driven shaft.
 13. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said driven shaft, as it is rotatively driven, drives yet another pulley thereon is entrained a belt for turning a respective pulley keyed on said secondary shaft.
 14. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus is designed for applying strips or films, of a resilient type, on an edge which is simultaneously trimmed by knife means.
 15. An apparatus, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said apparatus comprises moreover a right arm construction with a hot air blowing assembly at a right housing position, said arm providing a maximum operating safety.
 16. An apparatus for assembling and hemming fabrics by hot applying a strip or film having a surface thereof applied with an adhesive or thermofusible plastic material, according to one or more of the preceding claims, and substantially as broadly disclosed and illustrated and for the intended aim and objects. 